Cyclists hit by turning trucks is a repeating news story ... Sometimes these crashes are caused by the truck driver passing a cyclist prior to turning right, but very often they are caused by the cyclist passing the truck on the right. In both cases, the cyclist has the power to avoid the crash.

__________________"A superior pilot uses his superior judgment to avoid situations which require the use of his superior skill." - Frank Borman, NASA

Every oncoming is a left hook.
Every nearby with is a right hook.
Every positioned to merge or cross is a T-bone.
Every parallel parked is doored.
Every overtaking is a rundown.
Every edge is an edge-trap.
Every green light to you is a crossing vehicle running its red.
There's sand on the surface in every corner.
A gaze at infotainment coincides with a groundhog going from grazing weeds to running under a wheel.

Tom: You are a professional cycling survival trainer.... and one of the most experienced cyclists I have ever met. You help define city policy and are the poster child in our community for how to properly act on a cycle. I would say that you could help scribe the universal guide for proper cycling etiquette .

I would add that every railroad track across the road is a tire grabber unless you cross them at 90 degrees to the track. And, rumble strips are never fun and hurt in so many ways!
Good list above. Expect the unexpected.

Cyclists hit by turning trucks is a repeating news story ... Sometimes these crashes are caused by the truck driver passing a cyclist prior to turning right, but very often they are caused by the cyclist passing the truck on the right. In both cases, the cyclist has the power to avoid the crash.

This is good survival advice, and I've averted a number of right hook situations because I use this technique whenever I'm riding on a roadway with a marked bicycle lane.

However, I strongly disagree with the claim in the original article, "Cyclists hit by turning trucks is a repeating news story which highlights the most serious deficiency in our system — education of cyclists." No, the most serous deficiency is the design of our system.

Consider the illustration which shows a bicycle lane and a truck that is turning across the bicycle lane. This is illegal in all states whose statutes are based on the Uniform Vehicle Code: "Both the approach for a right turn and a right turn shall be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway."

The solid white line which separates the bicycle lane from the travel lane becomes a skip line on the approach to the intersection. This indicates to drivers in the travel lane that they may merge into the bicycle lane (after yielding to any bicyclist who is in the bicycle lane) as they prepare to turn off the highway. Only after they have positioned their vehicles "as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway" may they make the actual turn.

If the truck driver in this illustration had obeyed the law, a right hook could not happen.

But, as the illustration shows, the truck can not physically make this turn legally. So, why are we excusing the driver of the truck for making an illegal turn? Either the roadway should be designed to accommodate the truck, or trucks that can not comply with the law should be banned from that highway, or these types of trucks should have escorts to ensure the safety of bicyclists.

Placing the responsibility on the bicyclist for avoiding the collision is blaming the victim.

Placing the responsibility on the bicyclist for avoiding the collision is blaming the victim.

The primary responsibility for safety is with the person who wishes to be safe. That is why 'defensive driving' is the best way to safely operate your motor vehicle and 'taking the lane' when appropriate is a sensible way to cycle within the confines of our infrastructure system. It makes all the sense in the world to me to leave any bicycle lane when approaching an intersection and making myself as conspicuous as possible to following, oncoming, and crossing traffic. To blame either the cyclist or the driver when the facts are not known is inappropriate and non-productive. To cycle alongside a big rig when approaching an intersection where the truck driver may not see you and you might not know his intentions is asking for trouble. In my opining, the same is true when cycling alongside cars. The vehicle in front of you can not right hook you. Intersections are dangerous and require defensive cycling at all times.

I would add that every railroad track across the road is a tire grabber unless you cross them at 90 degrees to the track.

And at least in my area, every railroad track is a potential "snake bite" tire flat or even a bent rim unless you slow down. It's not the tracks themselves, but the steel roadway edges on each side of each track.